What are some reasons for referral to the Practice?

 

Reasons for seeking psychological services include:

  • To assess and treat conditions that affect the brain such as those associated with developmental disorders, acquired brain injury, or other medical conditions

  • To address emotional reactions that develop when individuals and families are confronted with changes in health or the onset of disability

  • To learn ways of managing pain from an injury or illness

  • For psychological or neuropsychological assessment to help diagnose brain-based disorders, mental health conditions and issues associated with cognitive difficulties

  • When workplace, test or school accommodations are necessary

  • To assess for possible learning disorders, neurodevelopmental symptoms or attention deficit disorder (ADHD)

  • To address emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that emerge in response to life stressors.

 

I am scheduled to undergo neuropsychological assessment, what do I need to know?

 

The most important requirement to keep in mind throughout the examination process is the need to try your best.  Unlike other healthcare assessments which require passive participation, neuropsychological assessment requires that you maintain an investment in performing optimally.  This allows for accurate results and clinically meaningful interpretations. 

The attached Patient Orientation to Neuropsychological Assessment provides additional details about the initial consultation and examination process and is available here for your review.

 

What do I need to bring to the first appointment?

 

Please bring copies of any reports from previous assessments, educational records, and neurological/psychiatric records for review.  Those records will be scanned and returned to you.   If you wear glasses or hearing aids please remember to bring them with you.  In order to make best use of our time together during our first meeting, please download and complete one of the attached forms and bring it with you or if preferred, fax it to the office beforehand. 

Child/adolescent intake form 

Adult intake form

 

What does the neuropsychological examination focus upon?

 

Evaluations are individually tailored to meet the specific needs of each person and therefore, some abilities may be more thoroughly assessed than others.   Generally, a typical neuropsychological evaluation will involve assessment of the following:

  • General intellect

  • Achievement skills such as reading, writing and math

  • Higher level executive skills (e.g., planning and organization)

  • Attention and concentration

  • Learning and memory

  • Language

  • Visual–spatial skills

  • Motor and sensory skills

  • Emotional and behavioral functioning

 

What will be contained in the report?

 

Unless other arrangements are made, a comprehensive report will be prepared proving details about relevant history and reason for referral, tests administered and their results, and will conclude with a diagnostic summary and recommendations for consideration.  Test scores usually in the form of percentiles will be included within the body of the report.  To help patient’s make sense of neuropsychological findings, the following Guide to Interpreting Psychological Test Scores is available for your reference. 

 

What methods of payment are accepted?

 

For your convenience, the Practice accepts a variety of ways to pay for services.  Check, cash, Discover, MasterCard, VISA and American Express credit cards are accepted. We will also accept debit cards containing the VISA or MasterCard logo.

 

Do you accept insurance?

 

Examination services offered by the Practice may be covered by your insurance policy’s “out of network” benefits.  Dr. Sandberg will work with you to determine whether such benefits are available. 

Some of the insurance companies we have worked with in the past include:

  • NY State Workers’ Compensation

  • No Fault

  • United Healthcare

  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO

  • The Empire Plan

  • Medicare